Half an hour later…
The wedding began.
Noelle was the first to walk down the aisle, her hand holding onto her father’s as he led her toward the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life cherishing.
A big smile rested on her lips because she was finally getting married to the man of her dreams.
And not to Matteo, who looked like a block of ice.
This way, she wasn’t going to become anyone’s stepmother.
Noelle was extremely proud of her decision.
The guests all watched with quiet expressions that spoke volumes.
Since the wedding was happening at the Devereaux mansion, they couldn’t do much unless they wanted their heads severed from their bodies.
“That girl tried to touch Tristan,” Noelle whispered to her father while trying to maintain her sweet smile.
“She fucking touched him.”
“Language, my daughter.
But don’t worry.
I’ll teach her a lesson later.”
Noelle’s smile brightened at her father’s words.
Once she reached the altar, her heart started hammering against her chest.
This was finally the day she became Mrs.
Devereaux.
However, Tristan was looking through the rows of guests, hoping to find someone even though he knew very well that she was busy getting ready for her own wedding.
“Tristan,” Noelle called softly.
“Is everything alright?”
After checking one last time, he tore his gaze away from the guests and decided to focus on the wedding at hand.
“Everything is fine.”
Then the priest began the ceremony.
Inside Sophia’s room…
“I’m sure the wedding has started by now,” Sophia muttered as she applied the finishing touches to Vanessa’s face.
After a few moments, she sighed in satisfaction.
“And we’re done.
You can open your eyes now.”
Vanessa did and instantly, her tongue caught in her throat.
She blinked once, then twice, waiting for the person in the mirror to change.
Sophia laughed.
“What are you staring at?
That’s you.”
“I don’t believe it,” Vanessa muttered.
“That can’t possibly be me.”
“You’re a very beautiful woman.
I don’t know why you’re surprised by your own beauty.”
Vanessa remained silent for a moment.
All her life, she had been compared to Noelle by her family.
Her beauty, her grades, and even her talents had always been compared to those of her sister.
She had been forced to suppress many of the things she was good at because her parents’ attention was always focused on Noelle.
Then a knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and a servant carrying a plate of strawberries entered.
“Miss Sophia, your mother said I should hand these over to you.”
Sophia beamed.
“My mother dearest sent me fruits.”
She took the plate and thanked the servant.
Once the woman left, Sophia turned toward Vanessa.
“Do you want to know a little secret?” she asked, her tone suddenly filled with mischief.
“What?”
“Matteo is actually allergic to strawberries.”
Sophia picked up one of the berries and held it between her fingers.
“A small taste is enough to send him to the ER.”
She popped the strawberry into her mouth without a care in the world.
“But my mother always keeps them for me because they’re my favorite kind of berry, so who cares?”
Vanessa blinked.
Matteo was allergic to strawberries.
An idea suddenly came to her mind.
A way she could get back at him for accusing her of being a kidnapper.
“I’m not sure if Matteo will be going as far as kissing you at the altar,” Sophia said, picking up another strawberry.
“But who cares?
Have some.”
Without wasting a second, Vanessa picked up a strawberry and ate it with a sinister grin.
He was the cause of enough problems in her life already.
Now it was time to deal with him a little.
Her grin stretched further across her cheeks.
Later…
Noelle and Tristan had already exchanged their vows and were officially pronounced husband and wife by the priest.
The guests clapped with fake happiness while Mrs.
Devereaux glanced around for Sophia.
The girl sat beside her, almost as if she had sensed that her mother was already looking for her.
“Is she ready?” Mrs.
“Yes, Mother.
And she looks very beautiful.”
Mrs.
Devereaux didn’t respond.
All she needed was a good daughter-in-law who was willing to take care of Bianca.
Just like Matteo, she also despised Fiona for trying to ruin Matteo and Bianca’s future after her infidelity.
“Did you speak to her?
How is she?” she asked with concern.
Sophia gave her a small smile.
“You really don’t have to worry about her, Mother.
She’s good.
I’ve known her since she and Tristan started dating, and she’s a good woman.
I know for sure she wouldn’t repeat what that witch of a woman did to Matteo.”
Mrs.
Devereaux quickly patted Sophia’s arm, warning her to watch her mouth.
Fiona was still a decade older than her.
Her gaze wandered toward Matteo, who was standing at the altar, looking as impatient as ever.
“I really hope this girl is a good one and completely different from Noelle and Fiona,” she muttered to herself.
Meanwhile, Matteo checked his wristwatch, wondering when his own wedding would start.
It hadn’t been his plan to be there.
Initially, he had planned to have one of his men deliver the wedding ring to Vanessa, but Bianca being Bianca had insisted that she wanted to see him at the wedding since she would be the flower girl.
Unable to refuse his daughter, he had come.
He looked forward and immediately spotted Bianca in a pretty pink dress, her chubby cheeks warm and a small basket of flowers in her hands.
Her eyes widened the moment she saw him.
She threw some flowers onto the aisle before reaching him.
Matteo automatically lowered himself to her height, and she placed a kiss on his cheek.
“I can’t wait to see my new mummy,” she whispered in a jolly voice before running toward her grandmother’s seat.
The next second, Matteo saw Vanessa being led down the aisle by her father.
Instantly, the smile on his face vanished.
That was the same woman who had saved his daughter from being kidnapped by his enemies.
However, instead of feeling grateful, he couldn’t help but remain suspicious of her.
He didn’t need to be told that she didn’t want to marry him.
So what exactly was her agenda?
Matteo’s eyes narrowed as he watched her approach.
Something told him that marrying Vanessa Voss was going to be far more complicated than he had anticipated.